What you need to know

The Gaming Act allows for up to three destination resort-casinos located in three geographically diverse regions across the state and single slots-parlor competitively awarded for one location statewide.

The licensing fee for each resort-casino is $85 million and requires a capital investment, to include a hotel facility, of at least $500 million. The Commonwealth will receive 25% of gross gaming revenues.

The slots-parlor, which will hold up to 1,250 slot machines, has a $25 million license fee, and a minimum capital investment of $125 million. The slots-parlor will be taxed at 49% of its gross gaming revenue.

MGC awarded the slots-parlor (Category 2) license to Penn National Gaming on February 28, 2014. Construction of the facility in Plainville started soon after, and is currently on schedule to be completed in late June 2015.

The resort-casino license in Region A (Eastern Mass.) was awarded to Wynn MA, LLC on September 17, 2014. The resort-casino license in Region B (Western Mass.) was awarded to MGM Springfield on June 13, 2014.

The remaining resort-casino license is available for Region C.

The following links are to third-party web sites not under the control of the MGC. MGC is not responsible for the contents of any linked site and is providing these links only as a convenience.

Plainridge Park Casino

Plainridge Park Casino will feature a $225 million dollar integrated racing and gaming facility that will include the only live harness-racing track in Massachusetts. The establishment will feature a four-venue food court. In addition, local football legend Doug Flutie’s first restaurant, Flutie’s Sports Pub, will be located at Plainridge Park Casino. The gaming area will feature 1,250 of the latest slot machines, video poker, video blackjack, and more. An entertainment lounge bar will featuring local and regional bands. Seasonal entertainment will be featured, including food and wine festivals, simulated game shows, and more. 1,620 structured and surface parking spaces will welcome visitors to the facility.

To learn more about Plainridge Park Casino and Penn National Gaming, visit their website.

MGM Springfield

MGM Springfield, an $800-million investment, is designed to ignite an urban revival.

The integrated resort casino is designed to enhance the entire urban center of Springfield. The mixed-used development project calls for a 25-story 250-room hotel with world-class amenities including a spa, pool and roof deck; 125,000 square feet of gaming space with 3,000 slot machines, 75 gaming tables, a poker room and high limit VIP gambling area; about 55,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space that will accommodate 15 shops and restaurants; and a multi-level parking garage.

Plans also envision a high-energy dining, retail and entertainment district with an eight-screen cinema, bowling alley and an outdoor stage. This will be developed by Davenport Properties of Boston, MA, in partnership with MGM on land now occupied by the tornado-ravaged South End Community Center and Howard Street School.

MGM Springfield will bring 3,000 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction jobs to Downtown Springfield. MGM has established a hiring goal of 35 percent of the workforce from the City of Springfield and 90 percent from a combination of Springfield and the region. Additionally, MGM Springfield has entered into surrounding community agreements with neighboring communities providing for tens of millions of dollars and has committed to spending approximately $50 million annually with regional vendors and suppliers.

The MGM Springfield site is located on approximately 14.5 acres of land between Union and State streets, and Columbus Avenue and Main Street.

Wynn Everett

Wynn Everett is a proposed $1.75 billion project that will include a five-star resort with more than 600 hotel rooms, high-end spa, retail, dining, ballroom and meeting space. Situated on 33 acres along the Mystic River, the site will allow for public enjoyment of the waterfront with paths that provide access to the harbor and retail and dining experiences that overlook the river walk. The resort will generate more than 4,000 construction jobs, more than 4,000 permanent jobs with excellent salaries and benefits and approximately $260 in annual tax revenue to the state.